Machine for shaping uppers over lasts



May 24, 1932.

C. A. ROBINSON MACHINE FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS Filed May 20, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 10 104 10s s 5 n 1 a: wfilwmlmrml Ema May 24, 1932. c. A. ROBINSON 1,359,471

MACHINE FOR- SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS Filed May 20, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 2 7s 70 7s f" 113". 3.

AWE/WEN Wm M May 24, 1932. c. A. ROBINSON 1,359,471

MACHINE FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS Filed May 20, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 H 80 874102 96 98 94 //vv/vmR Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES; PATENT CHARLES A. ROBINSON, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A; CORPORATION 'OF'NEW JERSEY MACHINE r012. SHAPING orrnns oven. nas'rs' Application filedMay 20, 1931. Serial No. 538,771.

This invention relates'to machinesfor'use in the manufacture of boots and shoes for shaping uppers over lasts, and more particularly to machines having means for gripping and pulling the upper in the upper-shaping operation. The invention is herein illustrated as applied to a lasting machine of that type in which a gripper is provided for gripping and pulling the upper successively in different locations along the edgeof the shoe bottom as the shoe is presented and held by the operator in diiterent positions, but it isto be understood that in its more general aspects the inventionis not limited to ma- 15' is-held under tension by the gripper. "It is desirable that the upper be subjected to a strong pull heightwise of the last in-order to stretchit and conform it properly to the contour of the last. It is, however, desirable that the force with which the gripperis urged thereafter in the direction ofthepull shall not be so great as to prevent the overdraw spring from. moving the gripper; well inwardly over the bottom of the last or'so great that the upper is subjected to undue strain by the overlaying means in laying'it over the sole or insole. If the strain on the upper is unduly great in the overlaying operation it may be difficult under some con-' ditions for. the operator to control the shoein such manner as to prevent its lateral displacement, audit the shoe has an insole pro vided with a lip in engagement with-the sole rest with which machines of this typ'e are provided there-may be danger, in operating on some work, of distortion ofthe lip by the lateral pressure of the sole rest against'itl materials.

Furthermore, under force tending to move the gripper heightwise of the last may prevent the gripper from being readily drawn more or less toward the bottom of the last by the pull of the upper thereon in the overstantially until the end of that operatio'nQ In view of the above and other considerations, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved means for operating and controlling the gripperin such manner that the upper may be subjected'to a pull of the forcejrequiredior the best results in'stretchinganci conforming it tothe contour of the last, and yet will not beisubjected thereafter to such strain as to prevent the overdrawing and overlaying operations frombeing per formedin the most satisfactory manner and withoutundesirable results of the character above mentioned. Forthe purpose in view the invention, in one aspect, accordingly provides a 7 novel organization of mechanism for operating the gripper yieldingly to pull the upper heightwise ofthe last and for thereafter urging the gripper in the direclaying operation, as is usuallysnecessary it 4 lt'lS to maintain control 01": the upper sub.

tion'oi the pull with less force than that appliedin theiupper-pulling operation." More particularly, the'construction shown comprises a comparatively heavy spring through which updraw movement is imparted to the gripper, and a lighter spring for urging the gripper thereafter in the direction of the. pull, together with automatic means fortransferring the yieldingcontrol oztthe gripper from the heavy spring to the lighter spring after the updraw movement. Through the lighterspring the gripper is controlled in suchmanner that while it in'aintains a pull on the upper of suflicient force to prevent undesirable loss of tension, its

overdraw movement may bereadily effected and the 'overlaying'operation maybe per formed without undue strain on the upper Among other, advantages, 1 this arrangement permits the "use of a heavier spring through which to-effect the updraw movement of the gripper than would otherwise be-practicable. I e

"The novel features of the invention, in-

eluding various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described by reference to the ac- Fig. 5

companying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a viewin right-hand side elevation of a portion of a machine in which the invention is embodied, parts of the structure 2 parts in the positions that they occupy in the overiaying operation;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in planand partly in section of a portion of the structure shown in'Fig. 2;

-Fig. 7 is a: view in left-hand side elevation, with the last and shoe shown in section, illustrating the positions of the gripper and of the overlaying member at the end of theupper-pulling or updraw movement of the gripper; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, illus trating the positions of the parts at an intermediate stage inthe overlaying operation.

The invention is herein illustrated as applied to a machine organization of the same general character as that fully disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,796,451, granted on March 17 1981, upon an application of GeorgeGoddu, andonly such parts of the machine, therefore, as it is necessary to refer tofor an understanding of-this invention are I herein shown and'will'be described in detail.

It will be understood that machines of the type illustrated are so constructed'as to last a shoe progressively by upper-pulling,overlaying and fastening operations performed successively in different locations along the edge of the shoe bottom while the shoe is supported by the operator and is presented by him successively in different positions. To assist in positioning and controlling the shoe the machine is provided with a sole rest 10 (Figs.-7 and 8) which engages a'sole or insole on the last and against which theopera tor supports the shoe. In operating'upon a shoe provided with an insole having a lip or rib a on its outer'face, as herein 111L187,

trated, the sole rest 10 is arranged to engage the inner face of the lip to assist'in determining theposition of the shoe'and'in-ho'lding it against displacement =in a direction transverse to its height in "theoperatioirof laying the upper inwardly over-the insole.

at the end of the upper-pulling opera is a View similar to Fig. 4 with the I For work of this kind the sole rest is so formed as to serve as an anvil for clinching the legs of staples driven through the upper andthe lip of the insole to fasten the upper in lasted position. The upper is pulled in each lasting location by a gripper comprising a pair of jaws 12 and 14, the gripper'being operated first to pull the upper heightwise of the last, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and

thereafter to draw its marginal portioninwardly over the bottom of the last, these different movements of the gripper being commonly termed the updraw and overdraw movements. At thetime when the gripper receives its overdraw movement an overlaying member 16 has arrived substantially or nearly at the end of its operative movement the gripper is opened to release the upper. Thereafter a staple is driven from the member 16 through the upper and the insole lip I .member 16 is advanced in a forwardly and I and is clinched on the sole rest member 10,

as fully described in the above-mentioned Letters Patent.

As shown in- Fig. 1, the gripper jaw 12 is fast on a holder 18 theupper end of which is clamped in a member 20 pivoted at 22 on the front end of a lever 24, this lever being mounted on a horizontal rock shaft 26 on the head of the machine. The gripper aw 14is supported on the holder 18 by a, link 28 and is connected by a link 30 to a rod32 through which it ismoved toward and from the jaw 12 to grip and release the upper; Thejaw 14 is held normally in releasing positionby the lifting action of a spring 34 on the rod 32. To move the jaw into gripping position there is provided a rocking member 36 on the, lever 24, this member engaging the upper end of therod 32'and being engaged inturn by a thrust rod 38 slidinglymounted in a boss 40. on

llOf

the lever 24 and in an opening in the rock shaft 26. The rod 38 is operated by a lever 42 which is pivoted at 46 on the head of the ma chine, this lever being provided with a spring-controlled plunger 48 which abuts against the rear end of the rod 38. The lever 42 is provided with a roll 50 engaged and operated by a peripheral cam 52 on a cam "wheel 54. I

For imparting movement the .machi'neis provided with an to the gripper its. dverdraw overdrawrod 56 mounted for sliding move- I mentin a bracket 58and pivotally connected with curved recesses to receive the opposite mounted. At its rear end the rod 56 is connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 62 the other arm of which is provided with; a roll 64 (Fig. 2) engaged by a peripheral cam 66 on: the cam wheel 54. Connected to the bellcrank lever 62 is a torsion spring 68 which moves the lever in the direction to slide the rod 56 forwardly and thus to swing the gripper about its pivotal connection. 22 with the lever 24 to draw the upper inwardly over the insole when the cam 66 permits this movement. I V

As thus far described the construction shown is substantially like that disclosed in the above-mentioned Letters Patent. thermore, in common also with the earlier disclosure, the means for operating the lever 24 to impart updraw movement to the gripper comprises another lever 70. which is pivotally mounted at 7 2 on the rear end of the lever 24 and is provided with:a roll74 (Fig. 2) engaged by a path cam 76 formed in one side of the cam wheel 54. For purposes of this invention however, the connect-ions between the lever and the lever 24 for operating and controlling the latter are constructeddiiferently from the disclosure of the prior Letters Patent. These connections comprise a member 78 provided with a vertical slot into which projects an, upward extension of the lever 70, this member having fast on its front and rear ends respectively, rods 80 and The rod 80. extends through a sleeve member 84 which is threaded in an upward extension of the lever 24 and is provided with a knurled head 86 by which it may be adjusted,'this head carrying a leather Washer 87 against whichthemember 78 abuts. The rod 82 is'surrounded bya coil spring 88 which presses at its rear end on a wing nut 90 on therod and at its front encl'on the central portion of a yokemember 92 which is slidingly movable on the rod and has arms 94 that extend forwardly in sliding contact with the opposite-sides of the member 78.'

In their'front ends the arms 94 areprovided end portionsof a pin 96 fast in the upward extension of the lever 70, this pin extending through elongated slots 98 provided in the opposite side portions of the member 78. It will thus be seen that when the lever .70 is moved by the cam 76 in the direction to impart updraw'movement tothe gripper, the

pin 96f1mpartsrearward movementto theyoke member 92 which: acts through the spring 88 and the nut 90 on the rod 82 and the member 78. In order to transmit movementv from the member 78 to the lever 24 there is provided means for connecting this member positively to the lever 24, this'means comprising a latch 100 which isfast on a shortrock; shaft. 102mounted in. depending-ears on the Fur-- member 8 and hooks over the front face of the knurled head 86 on the sleeve member 84.

The member 78 and the rods 80 and 82 are accordingly maintained in fixed relation to the lever 24 in the upper-pulling operation, this lever being operated through the spring" 88 which yields more or less inresponse to resistance of the upper to the force of the pull thereon. It will be understood that the force of the pull may, be varied by adjusting the nut 90. The positions of the several parts at the end of the updraw movement of the gripper are illustrated inFig. 4. r a

In order to lessen the force tendingto" move the gripper heightwise ofjthe last in the overdrawing and overlaying operations, the, machine is further provided with means where: by the yielding control of; the lever 24-is transferred from the spring 88 to a comparatively light spring 104 on the rod '80, this spring bearing at one end on a washer106 in engagement with the upward extension ofa the'lever 24 and at its opposite end on a nut 108 adjustable on the rod 80 to vary the compression of the spring. Such transfer is effected bymoving the latch 100 into position, to break the positive connection between the member 78 and the member 86. When this.

connection is broken the spring 88 impels the a For operating the latchlOO to effect the result above described, the machine is pro: vided with a bell-crank lever 110 mounted on the same pivot stud 46 as the lever'42. An upwardly extending arm of the lever 110 carries a screw 112 the end of which is arranged to bear on the front face of adepending arm 114 fast on the rock shaft 102 which'carries the latch 100; This latch is held normally in position to connect the member 78 to the head 86 by a torsion spring 116 mounted on the shaft 162. The bell-crank lever 110 is controlled by a torsion spring 118 which is stronger than the spring 116 and tends to move the lever in the direction to withdraw the latch 100 from engagement, with the head;

86. To prevent this operation until-the re-' quired time in the cycle, there is mounted on a'rearwardly extending arm of the bell-crank lever'llO a member 120 which'rests on thetop of the roll 64 previously referred to as carried by the overdraw lever 62; It willthus V be seen that at that time in the cycle whenthej V cam 66 permits downward" movement. of: the

machine are returned to their starting positions preparatory to the next cycle of opera-, tions. In such return of the parts the latch clockwise direction (Fig. 1) to withdraw thelatch- 100 from engagement with the head 86. 'In the operation of the machine, briefly summarized, the gripper isoperated to pull the upper heightwise of the last in each lasting location through the comparatively heavy spring 88 which transmits the force of the lever 70 to'the lever 24 through the latch 100 connecting the member 8 to the member 86 on the lever 24. Substantially at the end of the updraw movement of the gripper the cam 66 arrives in position to permit the roll 64 to be lowered and thus torender the overdraw spring "68 effective to swing the grip per jaws inwardly over the bottom of the last, the overlaying member 16 at the same time being moved forwardly and downwardly to: ward the bottom of the shoe to lay the marginal portion of the upper over the insole.

At an early stage in the overdrawing operation, before the member 16 arrives in position to apply any substantial pressure to the upper, the lowering of the roll 64 results in such downward movement of the latch 100 ,as to disconnect the member 78 from the member 86. The spring 88 then instantaneously expands to the limit determined by the pin 96 and the slots 98, impelling the member 78 and the rod 80 rearwardly and compressing the comparatively light spring 104:. Yielding control of the lever 24 is thus transferred from the spring 88 to the spring 104, and during the remainder of the overdrawing operation of the gripper and in the overlaying operation of the member 16 thec'om paratively light spring 104 serves to urge the gripper heightwise of the last with-less force than that applied through the spring 88 in the updraw movement of the gripper. The

,overdraw spring 68'is accordingly p'ern'iitted to force the gripper aws well inwardly over the bottom'of the last, and the niember'16 performs the overlaying operation without undue strain on the upper, the gripper jaws being'readily-drawn toward the bottom of the last against the resistance of the spring 104 by the pull of the upper thereon in this op eration, so that they may be so controlled as to maintain their hold on the upper until the member 16 has arrived substantially at the end of its operative'movement. After these operations have been performed and 'after the upper has been fastened by driving a staple from the "member 16 through the upper and the insole lip,--the parts of the 100 is again connected to the member 86 for transmitting the force of the-spring 88 to the lever Ql'in the next updraw movement of the gripper.

- It will'be evident that, among other ad-- tion of the insole lip by the pressure of the sole rest 10 against its inner face. It will further be evident that the invention renders it practicable to use a stronger spring for imparting to the gripper its updraw movement than if this spring remained in yieldring control ofthe upper inthe overlaying operation, which is a substantial advantage in operating upon work in which the upper materials are comparatively heavy.

Having described the invention, what I less force in the overlaying operation than;

that applied in the upper-pulling operation.

2. In an upper-shaping machine, the combin'ation with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, and means for laying aportion tively heavy spring for operating the gripper yieldingly to pull the upper, and ad tional mechanism comprising a lighter spring for urging the gripper in the direction of the 'pull with'less force in the overlaying operation thanthat applied through said heavy spring in the upper-pulling operation. a

3. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, and means for laying a portion of'the upper inwardly over thebottom of' the last, of mechanism for operating the gripper yieldingly to pull the upper, additional mechanism for urging the gripper yieldingly in the direction of the pullwith less force in the overlaying operation than that applied in the upper-pulling operation, and automatic means for rendering said additional mechanism operative to control the gripper at a predetermined'time in the 0peration ofthe machine.

4. In an uppenshaping machine, the combination-with a gripper'for'pulling an upper over a last, and means for laying a portion claim as new and desire to secure by Letters of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of mechanism comprising a compara-- of the upperinwardlyover the bottom of the; 7

last, of" mechanism comprising a comparatively heavy spring for operating the grip-' per yieldingly to pull'the upper heightwise;

of the last, a lighter spring arranged to urge the gripper in the direction-of the pull with less force in the overlaying operation than that applied through said heavy spring in the upper-pulling operation, and means for transferring the yielding control of the gripper from said heavy spring to the lighter spring after the upper-pullingoperation.

5. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pullingjan upper over a last, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of'the last, of mechanism comprising a spring for operating the gripper yieldingly to pull the upper, a-nother'spring arranged to urge the gripper in the direction of-the pull with less force in the overlaying operation than-that applied in the upper-pullingoperation, and means for rendering said other spring operative to control the gripper yieldingly in place of said first-named spring at a predetermined time in the operation of the machine.

' 6. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, and means for laying a'portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of mechanism for operating the gripper to pull the upper, said mechanism including members arranged in positive operative relation to each other, and means for establishing a yielding operative relation between said members at a predetrminedtime in the operation of the machine to urge the gripper in the directionof the pull with less force in the overlaying operation than that applied in the upper-pulling operation. r

7. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of mechanism for operating the gripper to pull the upper, said mechanism including members connected to move in fixed relation to each other, means for interrupting the connection between said members to permit rela tive movementbetween them at a predetermined time in the operation of the machine, and a spring arranged to be subjected to stress by such relative movement and to urge the gripper in the direction of the pull with less force in the overlaying operation than that applied in the upper-pulling operation.

8. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of mechanism including a spring for operating the gripper yieldingly to pull the upper, said mechanism including also members connected to move in positive operative relation to each other, means for disconnecting said members to permit relative movement between them after the upper-pulling operation, and another spring arranged to be subjected to stress by such relative movement andto urge the gripper in the direction of the pull with less force in the overlaying operation than that applied through said first-named spring in the upper-pulling operation.

9. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper-for pulling an upper overa last, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over; the bottom of the last, of a comparatively heavy spring through which to operate the gripper :yieldingly to pull the upper heightwise of the last, mem: bers arranged to transmit the force'of said spring to the gripper, a device for connecting said members positively together, means to cause said device to break the connection between said members and permit them to move relatively to each other ata predetermined time in the operation of the machine, and a comparatively light spring arranged to'be subjected to stressby the'relative movement of said members and to urge the gripper in the directionof the pull with less force in the overlaying operation than" that applied through said heavyspring in the upper-pulling'operation. r

10. In an upper-shapingmachine, the com- I movement to pull an upper heightwise of a last and for overdraw movement to pull it inwardlyrover the bottom of the last, and spring means for imparting to the gripper said overdraw movement, of; mechanism comprising'a comparatively heavy spring for imparting to the gripper yieldingly its updraw movement, a lighter spring arranged-to urge'the gripper yieldingly in the direction of its updraw movement during its overdraw movement, and automatic means for transferring the yielding control of the gripper from said heavy spring to the lighter spring.

12. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper mounted for updraw movement to pull an upper heightwiseofa last and for overdraw movement to pull it in- Wardly over the bottom of the last, overdraw means for imparting'said last-named move ment to the gripper, and means for laying the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last,'of'mechanism for imparting to the gripper yieldingly its updraw I the gripper yieldingly in the direction ofthe pull with less force in the overlaying operation than that applied in its updraw movement, and a device controlled by said overdraw means for rendering said additional Imechanism operative to control the gripper after its updraw movement.

13. In an upper-shaping machine, the combinationwith a gripper mounted for updraw jnism comprising a comparatively V ingly its updraw movement, a lighter spring of the pull with arranged to urge the gripper in the direction less force in the overlaying operation than that applied through said heavy spring in its updraw movement, and a device controlled by said overdraw means for transferring the yielding control of the gripper from said heavy spring to the lighter spring after the updraw movement ofthe gripper. r 1

14. In an upper-shaping machine, the com bination with a gripper ror pulling an upper over a last, a lever for operating said gripper, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of mechanism comprising a spring for operating said lever yieldingly to pull the upper, and additional mechanism comprising another spring arranged to act on said lever to urge the gripper in the direction of the pull with less force in the overlaying operation than that applied through said firstnamed spring in the upper-pulling operation.

15. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, a lever for operating said gripper, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of mechanism 7 comprising -a comparatively heavy spring for operating said lever yieldingly to pull the upper,.a lighter spring arranged to acton said lever to urge the gripper in the direction of the pullwith less force in the overlaying operation thanthat applied through said heavy spring in the upper-pulling operation, and automatic means for transferring the yielding control of said lever from the heavy spring to the lighter spring at a predetermined time in the operation of the machine.

16. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, a lever for operating said gripper, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of mechanism comprising a spring for operatingsaidlever yieldingly to pull theupper,

a member arranged to transmit the force of said member and the lever to permit the member to move relatively to the lever, and. another spring arranged to transmit the force of said member to the lever when saidconnecw tion'is broken to urge the gripper in the direction of the pull with less force in, the overlaying operation than that applied through said first-named spring in the upper-pulling operation. J i

'17.. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a'last, a'lever for operating said gripper,=and means for laying a'portion of the upperinwardly over the bottom of the last, of mechanism comprising a comparatively heavy spring lfor operating said lever yieldingly to pull-the upper, a rod for transmitting the force of 'sjaid spring to the lever, a latch for connecting said rod to the lever, means for operating said latch to release therod and permit it to move relatively to the lever after the upper-pulling operation, and a comparatively light spring arranged to transmit'theiorce of the rod to thelever when the rod is thus released to urge the grip per in the direction of the pull with less force in the'overlaying operation than that applied through said heavy spring in the upper-pulling operation;

18. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination witha gripper for pulling an upper over a last, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of a lever connected to the gripper for operating it to pull the upper, an-

other lever for operating said first-named lever, a spring connection between said levers for transmitting the force of one lever to the other in the upper-pulling operation, and an additional spring connection between the leversarranged to act with less force on'the' gripperin the overlaying operation than that applied in the upper-pulling operation.

19. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pullinganupper over a last, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of a lever connected to the gripper for operating it to'pull the upper, another lever for operating said first-named lever, a com-' paratively heavy spring for transmitting the force of one lever to the other in the upperpulling operation, a lighter spring for transmitting the force of one lever to the other in the overlaying operation, and automatic means for rendering the lighter spring yieldable in place of the heavy spring. 7

20. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the per in the direction of the pull i grlpper,

last, of a lever connected to the operating it to pull the upper, another lever for operating said first-named lever, a spring and a rigid member for transmitting the force of one lever to the otherfin the upperpulling operation, a positive connection between said member and one of the levers, and means for substituting a yielding connection for said positive connection to urge the gripwith less force in the overlaying operation than that applied in the upper-pulling operation.

21. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, and means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over the bottom of the last, of a lever connected to the gripper for operating it to pull the upper, another lever for operating said first-named lever, a comparatively heavy spring and a rod for transmitting the force of one lever to the other in the upper-pulling operation, a device arranged to serve as a positive connection between said rod and one of the levers in that operation, means for breaking said positive connection after the upper-pulling operation, and a comparatively light spring arranged to serve thereafter as a yielding connection in place of said positive connection to urge the gripper in the direction of the pull with less force in the overlaying operation than that applied through the heavy spring in the upper-pulling operation.

22. In a machine for progressively lasting shoes, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last successively in different locations along the edge of the last bottom, means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over a sole on the last after each upper-pulling. operation of the gripper, and a sole rest arranged to engage the sole as the last and shoe are presented by the operator successively in diflerent positions, of gripper-operating and controlling mechanism comprising a comparatively heavy spring arranged to act on the gripper yieldingly to pull the upper heightwise of the last and a lighter spring arranged to urge the gripper yieldingly in the direction of the pull with less force in the overlaying operation than that applied through said heavy spring in the upper-pulling operation.

23. In a machine for progressively lastingshoes, the combination with a gripper or pulling an upper over a last successively in diiferent locations along the edge of the last bottom, means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over a sole on the last after each upper-pulling operation of the and a sole rest arranged to engage the sole as the last and shoe are presented by the operator successively in different positions, of a lever for operating said gripper, mechanism comprising a comparatively fheavy spring for operating said lever yieldgripper for spring to the lighter spring after the upper pulling operation.

24. in a machine for progressively last-' ing shoes, the combination with a gripper forpulling an upper over. a last successively I in different locations along the edge of the last bottom, means for laying a portion of the upper inwardly over a sole on the last.

after each upper-pulling operation of the, arranged to engage the sole as the last and shoe are presented by the operator successively in different posigripper, and a sole rest tions, of a lever connected to the gripper. for operating it to pull the upper, another lever for operating said first-named lever, a compara-tively heavy spring for transmitting the force of one lever to the other in the upperpulling operation, a lighter spring for transmitting the force of one lever to the other 1n the overlaying operation, and automatic means for rendering the lighter spring yield- I able in place of the heavy spring.

25. In an upper-shaping machine, the com-1 bination with a gripper for pulling an upperover a last,'of different springs each arranged to apply tothe gripper force tending to move it heightwise of the last, and means for operating the gripper through one of said springs alone to pull the upper and for thereafter controlling it yieldingly through the other spring to hold the upper under tension.

26. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, of a comparatively heavy spring and a lighter spring each arranged to apply to the gripper force tending to .move it heightwise of the last, and means for operating the gripper through said heavy spring to pull the upper and for it yieldingly through. the lighter spring to hold the upper under tension.

27. In bination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a for operating the gripper yieldingly to pull the upper, another spring arranged to urge the gripper yieldingly in the direction of the pull to hold the-upper undertension, and means for rendering said other spring operative onthe gripper after the upper-.

thereafter controlling an upper-shaping machine, the comlast, of mechanism including a spring its iio

' said springs per to pull the the gripperyieldingly in the directionof the pull with less force than said first-named spring, and means for transferring the yielding control of the gripper to said other spring at a predetermined time in the operation of the machine. 7

29. In an upper-shaping machine, the com bination with a gripper for pulling an upper over'a last, of a lever for operating said gripupper, another lever for op erating said first-named lever, different springs for transmitting the force of one lever to the other, and means to cause one of to remain idle until force has been applied to the upper through the other spring.

30. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper overa last, of a lever for operating said gripper to pull the upper, another lever for operating said first-named lever, different springs for transmitting the force of one lever to the other, and means to render one of said springs alone operative in the upper-pulling operation and for thereafter transferring the yielding control of the gripper to the other spring to hold the upperunder tension.

31.v In an upper-shaping machine, the com- I bination with a gripper for pulling an upper per to pull the upper,

over a last, of a. lever for operating said gripper to pull the upper, another lever for operating said first-named lever, a comparatively heavy spring and a lighter spring for transmitting the force of one lever to the other, and means for rendering the heavy spring operative in the upper pulling operation and for thereaftertransferring the yielding control of the gripper to the lighter spring to hold the upper under tension.

32. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, of a lever for operating said gripper to pull the upper, another lever for operating said first-named lever, a spring and a rigid member for transmitting the force of one lever to the other in the upper-pulling operation, a positive connection between said member and one of thelevers, and means for substituting a yielding connection for said positive connection at a predetermined time in the operation of the machine.

33. In an upper-shaping machine, the combination with a gripper for pulling an upper over a last, of a lever for operating saidgripanother lever for operating said first-named lever, a comparatively heavy spring and a rigid member for transmitting the force of one lever to the other in the upper-pulling operation, a device for positively connecting said member to one of the levers, means to cause said device to disconnect said member and lever at a predetermined time in the operation of the machine, and a comparatively light spring arranged to act thereafter in place of said connecting CHARLES A. ROBINSON; 

